By Martin Bigg and Ross McGregor
The 2024 ADAC SimRacing Expo was undoubtedly the biggest event of the sim racing year so far, featuring over 70 exhibitors and 23 world premieres from some of the biggest brands on the planet.
Fanatec, Assetto Corsa EVO, Hyundair, Logitech, Thrustmaster, Moza, Simucube; the list of the industry big-hitters showing off their wares at SimRacing Expo was exhaustive.
With such a breadth of fine products to see, it was always going to be tricky to pick out our favourites, but we’ve had a go at selecting our top seven below.
Assetto Corsa EVO
Assetto Corsa EVO was the main attraction at this year’s ADAC SimRacing Expo. Sure, there was a plethora of sim racing hardware to salivate over; four-figure steering wheels festooned in carbon fibre using Formula 1 technology, but what’s the point if you’re only using it to play the same old racing sims?
That’s where AC EVO comes in, with the Expo’s hardware exhibitors pinning their hopes on people purchasing new equipment to enjoy with Kunos Simulazioni’s latest masterpiece.
Although we only played an alpha build of the Steam Early Access title, what we experienced surpassed many v1.0 games: the physics, sounds, and graphics made us nearly as enthusiastic as Jardier (nearly).
With a full day-to-night cycle, dynamic weather, mods and a combination of lovingly crafted road and racecars to drive, AC EVO is the most anticipated sim of 2025.
And even that’s an understatement.
Sim-Lab
Sim-Lab shocked many by unleashing three new wheelbases at SimRacing Expo, outputting 15 Nm, 25 Nm and 35 Nm respectively.
Although still in the early prototype stage, the 25 Nm wheelbase impressed our very own John Munro with its unfiltered feedback, allowing him to set one of the quickest times on the event’s leaderboard.
The Dutch company is perhaps best known for its range of cockpit and sim accessories, with its highly rated XP1 load cell pedals and its incredible Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team Sim Racing Steering Wheel rightly taking plaudits.
However, its new direct drive wheelbases look set to eclipse all of these in 2025, and we can’t wait to try out the finished products.
Mustang wheel
VPG Sim’s collaboration with Formula 1-supplier bf1systems has immediately borne the Ford Mustang GT3 steering wheel.
Using the same carbon fibre chassis and built on the same production line as the real-world racecar’s wheel, the only obvious difference between the two is the virtual unit’s matte finish, as opposed to the real example’s glossy exterior.
Weighing only 1.15 Kg, the Mustang GT3 wheel has magnetic shifters and dual-clutch paddles, with enough buttons and funky switches to satisfy the most map-happy of sim racers.
And thanks to its solid construction, you can violently swing the wheel from left to right – like a Mustang leaving a car meet – and not end up upside down in a hedge. Bonus!
Although it costs an eye-watering £1599 ex-VAT, that’s around the going rate for a real-world inspired steering wheel, with Fanatec’s similarly homologated Podium Steering Wheel BMW M4 GT3 retailing for 1,499€ upon release.
Fanatec’s confidence has returned
Speaking of which, Fanatec is back, and it’s coming for your wallet!
Fear not, Fanatec isn’t about to pickpocket unwary sim racers, but its resurgence under the stewardship of Corsair saw the Landshut-based company showcase several sexy new products at SimRacing Expo, with many fans suitably hyped.
Considering the uncertainty its staff had been facing in the preceding weeks, it was joyful to see the brand confidently displaying its new Podium Steering Wheel Bentley GT3, ClubSport Handbrake V2, cockpit and CSL Elite Steering Wheel Porsche Vision Gran Turismo.
Not only that, but Fanatec plans to overhaul its sometimes finickety software, consolidating everything into one, simple package in 2025. It’s all very exciting.
With Corsair also promising to improve Fanatec’s customer service issues and continue to work on new Fanatec-branded sim racing products, the future once again looks very bright for the German brand.
SimExpo expands to the US in 2025
For the last ten years, the ADAC SimRacing Expo has been held in Germany once a year. That’s set to change next year. One of the most surprising announcements at this year’s show was that the Expo will expand to the US with a second event in 2025, thanks to a collaboration between South West Vision and Stefy Bau’s Init Esports. It’s a clear sign of the sim racing market’s increasing prevalence.
Rebranded as the ‘Sim.Expo,’ America’s first sim racing show will take place between 13th – 15th March 2025 at The Long Center for the Performing Arts in Austin, Texas.
Hosted by the iconic South by Southwest festival, it promises to be a spectacular show, with new sim racing equipment to try, live music, and a partnership with the COTA Formula 1 circuit.
Exhibitors have yet to be announced, but organisers hinted that the first Sim.Expo will showcase a broader range of simulations beyond racing, from flying to farming.
Corsair’s new rebranded Fanatec rig
Corsair is best known for its gaming PCs and accessories, so it was surprising when the American manufacturer announced its debut state-of-the-art sim racing rig, previewing a prototype in June.
That prototype was available at the ADAC SimRacing Expo for visitors to try but rebranded to Fanatec following Corsair’s takeover, with prominent Fanatec logos adorning the steel tubes and seat.
Joining the current CSL and Rennsport cockpits, Fanatec’s new rig will offer plenty of adjustability when it comes to repositioning the wheel, pedals, and seat, with the ability to add Elgato equipment such as lights, cameras and Stream Decks.
Finished in black or white, Fanatec’s new rig looks slick, boasting rigid 50mm steel tubing and a two-piece bucket seat (sold separately) that’s body-hugging yet comfortable. Pricing and availability details are unknown, but we should find out more soon as Fanatec’s new rig is expected to arrive later this year.
Racing Unleashed’s state-of-the-art Pagani Huayra R Simulator
There was no shortage of eye-wateringly expensive rigs at this year’s SimRacing Expo, but one of the standouts was Racing Unleashed’s exquisite Pagani Huayra R Simulator.
From the seat to the steering wheel and pedals, the rig shares many parts with the real-life Pagani hypercar, which produces 838 horsepower from a 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12. Even the carbon fibre and aluminium materials are sourced from the actual Huayra R.
A five-point harness securely straps you in, preparing you to be thrown around by the motion platform’s three degrees of freedom. The state-of-the-art simulator also includes a direct drive wheel with 20 Nm peak torque, a 49-inch ultra-widescreen monitor, and Assetto Corsa Pro software simulating the Huayra R’s driving dynamics.
The price? Be prepared to pay over €200,000. It’s also so exclusive that you only buy it from Pagani dealerships.
Those lucky enough to own one can even book a coaching session with a Pagani driver to practice driving the real hypercar, check telemetry data, and compare lap times with other Huayra R owners. Sim rigs don’t get much more extravagant than this. We can but dream.
What were you most impressed with at the 2024 ADAC SimRacing Expo? Let us know in the comments below.
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